Languages in Feyworld
The Ten Tongues of Man
Scholars refer to the "Ten Tongues of Man" as those families of languages that can be traced directly to a "parent" language (which is often no longer used in modern days). It is a bit of a misnomer, as there are human languages that aren't related to any of the ten recognized language families. Recent scholarship has uncovered that the parent languages of the Ten Tongues were invented whole-cloth by an entity known as Oghma at the conclusion of the Second Age of Man, as a means to ensure that the conflict that tore through the world in the Second Age could not repeat itself. Some scholars dispute this so-called Curse of Ten Tongues and deny the existence of a god-like being outside the ancestry of the Old Gods.
Adan-Halic Tongues
Spoken primarily in eastern Gallorea, the Adan-Halic Tongues are descendants of the ancient Balguri tongue, spoken in the Empire of Balguran.
Adan
Adan is spoken primarily in Adanar, Nadera, Perivel and Valduran, with no small number of speakers in Thet and Hartland. It is rarely used outside these regions eastern Gallorea. It is known by some scholars as Southern Balguri, a reference to its Balguri roots.
Balguri (Extinct)
Balguri was the language of the Empire of Balguaran in eastern Gallorea before it fell some seven centuries ago. While still known by some scholars and researchers who specialize in Balguric history, it is not used by any modern cultures.
Halic
Halic, a close relative of Adan, is spoken primarily in Halgard, Haleland, Hartland, Oridal and the Pale Marches. It is known by some scholars as Northern Balguri, a reference to its Balguri roots. Some traders beyond these regions that work extensively in Halic lands know a smattering of Halic.
Thesh
An offshoot of Balguri spoken primarily in Thet and Scythia, rarely used outside those regions.
Aebasan Tongues
The Aebasan tongues are spoken primarily in western Gallorea and the island of Dresta that is usually associated with Aurea. Aebasan itself has been used as a trade language in western Gallorea for centuries.
Aebasan
Though primarily spoken in Aebasa, Feldosha and Pthokos, Aebasan is spoken as a secondary trade language throughout western Gallorea and beyond. Though rare in Duria, even traders in southern Aurea tend to have enough knowledge of the language to conduct business.
Drestan
Spoken primarily in Dallea, Mendar and Thevaste, Drestan is a descendant of Aebasan almost unknown outside the island of Dresta.
Espirian
Spoken primarily in Daciara, Eeridia and Narisia, Espirian is a descendant of Aebasan uncommon outside these three cultures.
Neptaran
A distant cousin to Old Aebasan, Neptaran has developed independently of Aebasan for over two millennia. Spoken primarily by the citizens of the Freecity of Neptaris, the language has become a trade language of southern Duria in the last two centuries, replacing Zetian as the common trade language.
Old Aebasan (Extinct)
Spoken in the distant past, the language remains in written form only in extremely old ruins and fragments. Modern scholars have been unable to translate the language, though it is believed to have been the progenitor not only to modern Aebasan, but to Abarisian, the language of the mages of Abaris.
Taurish
Unique among the languages believed to be descendant from the Ten Tongues, Taurish is the language of centaurs and minotaurs, suggesting some common origin for the two races. It is spoken primarily among the centaurs of the Tarescan Fields and among the minotaurs of Gengel. Some scholars have even suggested that Taurish, not Old Aebasan is the progenitor of all the Aebasan Tongues.
Aurean Tongues
Spoken primarily on the continent of Aurea, the Aurean tongues have nevertheless spread across both Aurea and Duria, particularly in those lands conquered by the Great Empire, influencing Durian languages there.
Aurean
The modern descendant of Old Aurean, Aurean is spoken primarily in Aescalapea, Milosia, Treva and Vistria . It is very closely related to modern Zetian and basic communication between native speakers is not difficult.
Cambrecian
The Cambrecian language developed only in the last three or four centuries, as contact with the mainstream Zetian tongue was limited during the latter half of the Third Age of Man. In the Fourth Age of Man, Cambrecian is a distinct language, almost unintelligible from its original tongue. It is spoken primarily in Cambrecia, Daredonia, Kamaros and Numentora, its use is on the decline outside the modern borders of Cambrecia
Cordosan
A relatively recent offshoot of Zetian, Cordosan is spoken primarily in Aquilia, Cordosia, Karony and Medalia.
Dracian
Primarily spoken in Dracia, Stavaria and Waldavia, the language is often used as a Trade Language in central Aurea. It is primarily derived from Zetian, with some influences from Murgosh a now-lost local dialect of Old Aurean that predated the Imperial conquest of Dracia. While not necessarily a secret language, Dracian merchants outside their home countries tend to suppress instruction in the language, preferring to keep knowledge of it reserved for native Dracians.
Ganesian
An ancient offshoot of Old Aurean spoken in Ganesia during the early centuries of the Third Age of Man, the language languished during the Imperial era, with only a few speakers in the foothills of the northeastern hills by the end of the Third Age of Man. With the fall of the Empire, however, the language (as well as national pride in Ganesia) has seen a strong resurgence, though it is still rare to encounter outside of Ganesia and Pavardy.
Narbonais
Narbonais is a combination of Zetian and Narbar, an extinct language spoken in Narbonne prior to the Zetian conquest of the region. The language is common in Campois, Mabagne and Narbonne on the continent of Aurea. The language was the language of Imperial nobility in Koramia for some centuries and contributed heavily to the formation of modern Koramian.
Old Aurean (Extinct)
The ancient language of Aurea, it is now mostly only understood by scholars and historians specializing in ancient Aurean history.
Zetian
The dominant language derived from Old Aurean, Zetian is spoken throughout Aurea and northwestern Duria. It is spoken as a primary language in Camaria, Ciritasnia, Ganesia and Zeth. It is often used as a trade language else where on Aurea and northern Duria, though Koramian and Neptaran have begun to dominate trade on Duria in the Fourth Age of Man.
Durian Tongues
A loose family of languages spoken primarily in northeastern Duria, there is no known direct evidence of a parent language. It is notable, however, that the grammatical structure of the Durian Tongues is identical to that of Dwarven and more than a few words are obviously derivative of dwarven words. Dwarven scholars discount this as coincidence, as there is little evidence of extended friendly contact between dwarves and humans on Duria until the past century.
Illyrian
Illyrian, a close relative of Koramian, is spoken almost exclusively in Illyria and Dakra, in the far north of Duria
Koramian
Koramian is spoken primarily in Koramia, though there are no small number of speakers on Stormward Isle and Tamerynd. It is the language of the peasantry of Ciritasnia and is presumably spoken by whatever sentients still exist on the Black Isle. Koramian is something of an amalgamation of a large variety of languages, with strong influences from Zetian and Narbonais, due to its long history of conquest by the Empire.
Pelusian
Pelusian is spoken primarily in Pelusia. Of the Durian Tongues, it tends to be the most unique, with a slightly different grammatical structure than other Durian Tongues. Most scholars suggest that this is because it developed in the high valleys of Pelusia with almost no contact with the outside world for centuries.
Nagosi
Nagosi is spoken primarily in Nagos, though it is something of a minor trade language to the human nations of the Sea of Blades. Scholars familiar with elemental languages suggest that there is some Aquan influences on Nagosi, but this controversial theory is by no means proven.
Simer (Extinct)
Simer is the extinct language of the western half of the Divian Peninsula, known mainly to scholars through translation guides that survived the Imperial Conquest of present-day Koramia.
Tracini (Extinct)
Tracini was spoken by the tribes of the same name prior to the Imperial Conquest in present-day Koramia, particularly in the southeast of the nation. Scholar suggest that it is the direct precusor of modern Koramian and the influence of Dwarven seems even more pronounced in Tracini than in Koramian.
Kamaran Tongues
The Kamaran Tongues are primarily spoken in southern Duria.
Kamaran
Kamaran is spoken primarily in Kamaros in southern Duria, though knowledge of the language is starting to spread to scholars in Daredonia and Auteria. For centuries, while Kamaros was under Cambrecian rule, the language was all but stamped out, kept alive only by hillfolk and some Kamaros scholars in exile in nearby Neptaris. With the dissolution of Cambrecia during the Dark Times, Kamaran has seen a resurgence as the Kamaros re-establish their national identity.
Malvetian
Malvetian is spoken primarily in Malvetia and Auteria. Though it was once spoken by the small human population of Danas, Calmergh Teanga has almost completely replaced it there. Some elemental scholars have suggested that the language suggests strong Terran influences, though mainstream scholars tend to discount this theory and instead suggest that those influences are Dwarven.
Old Kamaran (Extinct)
Old Kamaran was spoken by the clans of southern Duria prior to the Imperial Conquest. Though fragments of the written language have been found in ancient ruins, modern scholars have no real linguistic comparison available to determine how it was spoken.
Murgosh Tongues
The Murgosh Tongues are primarily spoken in central Aurea. There is evidence of strong Orcish influence (particularly Tan'kol) in all of these tongues, though speakers of the tongues vehemently deny any relationship.
Mitarian
Mitarian is a rare language spoken by an extremely small number of people in the city of Vareshna in Mitaria. Though once spoken throughout the nation, the Imperial Conquest and more recent conquest by the Caledonian clansmen have all but wiped out use of the language.
Murgosh
Murgosh is spoken primarily in Murgosia and Rigania, as well as among human settlers in Schweinholz. The language remained the language of the lower and middle class for centuries in Murgosia, despite Imperial attempts to encourage Zetian as the primary language of the state while under Imperial rule. It is used as something of a trade language in towns on the Brothers, but is extremely rare elsewhere.
Narbar (Extinct)
Narbar was the language spoken by the Nabar people of modern-day Narbonne prior to their conquest by Zeth. With the coming of the Empire, attempts to stamp out the Nabar tongue resulted in Narbonais, which is only loosely influenced by its predecessor.
Old Murgosh (Extinct)
Old Murgosh was the language spoken in western and central Aurea. It is known by a few rare scholars, but otherwise not used in modern times.
Sonath
Sonath is spoken primarily by the humans and half-elves of Anclea and Dreluria. Scholars believe there is a strong elven influence on the language, which lends it a lyrical quality. No small number of bards on Aurea have composed ballads and songs in Sonath and today the language is something of a common tongue to bards across Aurea.
Tangar (Extinct)
Tangar was spoken by the ancient, pre-Imperial human kingdoms of western Aurea, including modern-day Anclea and Drallia. It is also believed to have been spoken by humans in the Ride of Tongwr and the Plains of Tazgrat before those lands were overwhelmed by the orcish hordes. Rumors abound of the remnants of a human kingdom beyond the orcish lands called Kadach where Tangar is still spoken. Tangar is the ancestor of Sonath and Tanosian.
Tanosian
Tanosian is spoken in Drussa, Drallia and Scalaro and is not well known outside these nations. Use of the language was all but stamped out in Drussa during the Imperial occupation, but the dissolution of the Great Empire lead to a resurgence in its use, mainly due to increasingly close ties to Drallia.
Rhazi Tongues
The Rhazi Tongues are spoken primarily in western and central Gallorea. Some scholars have suggested Infernal roots to the languages, though this is generally discounted as Aebasan propaganda against Rhazi-speaking nations.
Bandi
Bandi is spoken by the remote tribesmen of Bandarland.
Khardi
Khardi is spoken by the people of Kardesca and Balasa.
Kuro
Kuro is spoken by the people of Kuroshka.
Lenthi
Lenthi is spoken by the people of Lenthos.
Rhazi
Rhazi is spoken by the people of Bakal and Bythnadocia, though it was once spoken throughout the ancient Empire of Bakal, which stretched across Gallorea from the Eternal Ocean to the Lagorkan Bay. It is one of only two of the original Ten Tongues of Man still spoken today.
Zamardan
Zamardan is spoken by the people of Zamarda. Of all the Rhazi Tongues, Zamardan shows the most influence from Infernal, a concept not generally denied by the witches of Zamarda.
Zeni
Zeni is spoken by the people of Zean.
Valtaani Tongues
The Valtaani tongues are primarily used by humans in the extreme north, by the Valtang and in those places they have conquered (Haethgrind, Ljoetrlund, Rathurthjoth and Sparghurst). Much to the consternation of human scholars, the common tongue of trolls on Aurea and Duria also seems related to Valtaani and some have suggested that the human languages are actually descendant of Trolle.
Iceni
Iceni is spoken primarily by the nobility of Norlund. It is generally believed to be the ancestor of Norl.
Norl
Norl is spoken primarily by the middle and lower class people of Norlund. The language is an amalgam of Iceni and Koramian that arose during the Imperial Conquest of the Divian Peninsula.
Trolle
Trolle (pronounced "Trulla") is the language of the trolls of Aurea and Duria. It is spoken as a primary language only in the Trollstova Isles.
Valtaani
Valtaani is primarily spoken in Haethgrind, Ljoetrlund, Rathurthjoth and Valtaan.
Zaran Tongues
The Zaran Tongues are spoken in eastern Duria, south of the Mauradine.
Dorakian
Dorakian is spoken primarily by the mages of Lun Dorak and is an amalgam of Zaran, Zetian and Abarisian.
Zaran
Zaran is spoken by many of the native slaves of Lun Dorak and in Stenoa. Despite domination by the Dorakian mages, Zaran is one of the only of the original Ten Tongues of Man still spoken today.
Ygarl Tongues
The Ygarl Tongues are spoken in central Gallorea. Ygarl is considered one of the Ten Tongues of Man, despite the parent language being spoken primarily by giant races.
Lagan
Lagan is spoken primarily in Lagorka, though it is often used as a trade language for nations around the Lagorkan Bay.
Ogrish
Ogrish is spoken by ogres worldwide and is considered to be a corruption of Ygarl.
Rennan
Rennan is spoken primarily in Renland and Euboros. The language is grammatically Ygarl, though with strong Aebasan influences.
Velan
Velan is spoken primarily in Velanos. It is generally considered descendant from Zengaran, with strong influences from Taurish
Ygarl
Though Ygarl is considered to be one of the Ten Tongues of Man, it is today spoken almost exclusively by the giant races across the world. Human scholars contend that this is because the original human speakers of Ygarl taught it to giant slaves, but giant traditions speak of enslaved humans learning their tongue.
Zengaran
Zengaran is spoken primarily in Zengara. The language shows strong influences from Balguri.
Other Human Languages
Ashran
Ashran is the strange language of Deshret, Kuut and Barakesh. It seems related to Keshi Language, but few scholars outside southern Gallorea are even aware of the language, much less have studied its relationship to other languages.
Gael
The Gael Languages are spoken by disparate clansmen across the world, a fact which leads many scholars to suggest that they are derived from an original human tongue. They therefore place Gael languages outside the Ten Tongues of Man. Others suggest that Gael was spoken by nomadic tribesmen of the distant past who did not lose their language when they settled across the continents. More recently, the druids have told the story that, to punish mankind for wars at the conclusion of the Second Age of Man, the Tuatha de Dannan cursed most of humanity with the Ten Tongues, leaving some remote areas uncursed. Debate continues as to why isolated peoples from disparate parts of the world speak such similar languages.
Calmergh Teanga
Calmergh Teanga is spoken by the clansmen of the Calmerian Marches and by slaves taken from the Marches in Lun Dorak. Strangely, of the Gael Languages, Calmergh Teanga is most similar to Llanyeon Teanga, spoken in northern Aurea.
Llanyeon Teanga
Llanyeon Teanga is spoken by the people of Donnagh Saoristat, Gyneiniog, Lothaven, Ywys and the clansmen of the Challieann Mountains. For reasons that baffle scholars, Llanyeon Teanga is most similar to Calmergh Teanga, spoken by the Gaels of Duria.
Hagerian Teanga
Hagerian Teanga is the language spoken by the clansmen of Hageria.
Ludaeg Teanga (Extinct)
Ludaeg Teanga was once spoken in Luderea, though it has long since been replaced by Ludan. As the language was not known to have been written down by its native speakers, the only known remnants of the language are in place names and references to the language in ancient texts.
Uaine Teanga
Uaine Teanga is spoken by the savage cannibals of the Green Isle. It is almost unintelligible to even other Gael speakers and is assumed to have been corrupted from Llanyeon Teanga.
Keshi
Keshi is spoken only in Kesh and is all but unknown outside the island nation. Though some suggest it is related to Ashran, few scholars have studied similarities between the two languages.
Tamerish
Tamerish is an amalgam language spoken primarily by the pirates of Braregia, Stormward Isle, Harshwind, Marosh and Tamerynd. It freely uses word and grammatical structure from Aebasan, Koramian, Zetian and may even contain some Old Utherian. It is widely known in the Pirate Isles and along the inner shores of all three continents.
Utherian Languages
The Utherian languages were believed to be dominant across central Duria prior to the Imperial Conquest of Duria, but the only known modern descendant of Utherian is spoken in pastoral Enesia.
Enesian
Enesian is spoken primarily in Enesia and by human settlers in the western Mistwood. It is relatively rare elsewhere, even among scholars, who tend to find little use in its study.
Old Utherian (Extinct)
Old Utherian was spoken primarily in central Duria, in ancient Enesia and Numentora. Based on some scant historical finds, some scholars suggest that Old Utherian was once spoken throughout the Sea of Blades in a long-forgotten Empire, but little direct evidence exists of this theory.
Other Languages
Abarisian
Abarisian is the tongue of the Church of Abaris, seemingly created whole-cloth by the priests or mages of Abaris in ancient times. According to religious texts, the language was handed down by Abaris herself to allow her followers to speak with one another no matter their cultural background.
Druidic
The secret language of the druids across the world, Druidic (called Draoidheach Taenga by the druids themselves) seems related both to the Gael Languages and to Sylvan Language, though the relationship is not close enough in either case to consider either an ancestor tongue.
Planar Languages
Aquan
Aquan is the language of creatures of the Elemental Plane of Water, typically only spoken by mages specializing in elemental magic and clergies of Betshaba and Taltos
Astraean
Astraean is the language of creatures of the Elemental Plane of Air, typically only spoken by mages specializing in elemental magic and clergies of Ptharos and Maelphegor.
Celestial
Celestial is the language of angels and other servants of the Triad, rarely spoken by mortals, though scholars specializing in ancient Triadic religious ritual will often study the complex language in the hopes of understanding some key secret of Creation.
Daoineth
Daoineth is the language of the Unseelie Fey. Though there are some druids who have studied the language, it is only rarely studied elsewhere among mortal races.
Ignan
Ignan is the language of creatures of the Elemental Plane of Fire, typically only spoken by mages specializing in elemental magic and clergy of Dagon.
Infernal
Infernal is the language of demons, entital servants of the Dagonian deities and the secret language of Witches. It is rarely spoken by mortals and knowledge of the language is usually prohibited in most Triadic cultures.
Sylvan
Sylvan is the language of the Seelie Fey. It is generally known by druids and some scholars have recently begun studying the language in more detail. It is sometimes used by groups of rangers and foresters as a secret language in areas where it is otherwise unknown.
Terran
Terran is the language of creatures of the Elemental Plane of Earth, typically only spoken by mages specializing in elemental magic and clergies of Baelthor and Enosigaois.
Racial Languages
Draconic
Draconic is spoken primarily in the Dragonlands, though some sorcerors across the world maintain it as a secret language that they teach only to other sorcerors. It is related to no known language and is believed to be the ancient tongue of dragons themselves.
Dwarven
The languages of the dwarves are extremely similar in grammar and syntax, with only minor differences between the different dialects. Dwarven is believed to be related to Terran and perhaps derivative of it and, strangely, seems to have great influence on several human languages in Duria.
Derlsprache
Derlsprache is spoken by the dwarves of Derlos beneath the Cambrecian Mountains on Duria.
Eisensprache
Eisensprache is spoken by the dwarves of Eisenhallen beneath the Paelusian Mountains in western Gallorea.
Gundasprache
Gundasprache is spoken by the dwarves of Gundag beneath the Divian Mountains in northern Duria.
Nuthsprache
Nuthsprache is spoken by the dwarves of Nuithone deep beneath Valtaan off the northeastern shore of Aurea.
Reichsprache
Reichsprache is spoken by the dwarves of Unterreich deep beneath the Antasian Mountains in southern Aurea. The Unterreich dwarves claim it is the purest form of dwarven.
Valsprache
Valsprache is spoken by the dwarves of Valdal beneath the Janos Mountains in eastern Gallorea as well as in Dieros and Valduran on the surface.
Elven
There is but one Elven Language, sung where ever elves keep their homes, including Almwood, Elarean, the Glistening Weald, Mistwood, the Sapphire Wood and Webwood. There are legends of a vast library somewhere in Elarean dedicated to the elven language that maintains the language's purity throughout the world.
Elsh'Akal
Elsh'Akal is the elven "Battle Tongue," essentially a much abbreviated version of Elven. It is the language most often learned by non-elves and is primary only in Palerean in southern Gallorea.
Goblin
Goblin is not so much a language as a collection of amalgamated languages spoken by goblins throughout the world. Though most goblin languages include aspects of Orcish Languages, Ygarl Language and, oddly, strong Daoineth influences, they also include a smattering of whatever human language is dominant in the area in which they live. Even neighboring tribes may have difficulties understanding one another and a non-goblin speaker, at best, understands how goblins invent their language and can usually figure out much of what they're saying based on knowledge of where their tribe originated.
Hobbit
Hobbit is a near-universal language spoken by Hobbits everywhere. Regional variations exist as the local language invariably creeps into the language, though all Hobbit displays a strong influence, if not ancestry from, the Gael Languages. It is primarily spoken only in Danas and Hartland.
Orcish
The languages of the orcs are almost identical across all three continents, much to the surprise (and consternation) of the few scholars who study the language.
Dun'ka
Dun'kol (or "Great Tongue") is the secret language spoken only by orcish shamans and great leaders across the world. No scholar outside these orcish circles has ever recorded the language and even its existence is only rumored. Of the Orcish Languages, it is the most unique and is generally unintelligible to orcish speakers.
Gorosh'kol
Gorosh'kol is spoken by the orcs of central Gallorea, including Vagorosh.
Kagra'kol
Kagra'kol is spoken by the orcs of eastern Gallorea, including Vor Kagran.
Midal'kol
Midal'kol is spoken by the orcs of Duria, including Vor Midal and the Orcish Wastes.
Tan'kol
Tan'kol is spoken by the orcs of northwestern Aurea, including the Plains of Tazgrat, the Orcish Moorlands and the Ride of Tongwr. Those few scholars who have studied the language suggest some influence from the now-extinct Tangar
Language Table (UNFINISHED)
| Language | Nations where common | Bonuses | Reality Equivalent |
| Aurean | Aescalapea, Darria, Milosia, Cordosia | -2 Zetian/ -9 Hobbit | Vulgate Latin |
| Caledonian | Challieann Mountains | -3 Gael/ -8 Mitarian/ -10 Valish | Scots Gaelic |
| Valish | Valtaan | -3 Mitarian/ -5 Dwarven/ -9 Gael | Norse |
| Dracian | Dracia | -5 Zetian | Romanian |
| Dwarven | Deiros | -5 Valish/ -8 Koramian/ -9 Mitarian | German |
| Elven | Elarean | -4 Hobbit/-5 Gael | N/A |
| Gael | Mabean Marches, Ywys, The Green Isle | -3 Caledonian/ -8 Elven/ -9 Valish/ -10 Mitarian | Irish Gaelic |
| Hobbit | Various hobbits | -2 Gael/ -4 Caledonian/ -8 Elven | Gaelic |
| Koramian | Koramia | -8 Gael/ -8 Zetian/ -8 Narbonnese/ -9 Dwarven | English |
| Mitarian | Mitaria | -3 Valish/ -8 Gael | Anglo-Saxon |
| Murgosh | Murgosia, Anclea, Drallia | Nil | N/A |
| Narbonese | Narbonne | -5 Zetian/ -9 Mitarian | French |
| Orcish | The Plains of Tazgrat | Nil | N/A |
| Tamerish | Tamerynd Isle | -10 Zetian | N/A |
| Zetian | Zeth, Camaria, Ganesia, Medalia | -2 Aurean/ -6 Dracian/ -6 Narbonese/ -7 Koramian/ -10 Tamerish | Classical Latin |
| This article is part of the Feyworld Sourcebook | |
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